The best capture cards for PC gaming

These are the best capture cards for streaming, 4K, and newcomers.

Getting the best capture card for PC gaming, recording, and streaming depends on what you want it to achieve—not to mention the rig you have. If you’re looking for an entry-level device that’s user-friendly as well, Elgato’s HD60S or AverMedia’s Live Gamer Extreme are solid bets. At the other end of the scale, power-users who are serious about quality should consider devices like the Elgato 4K60 Pro. We’ve gathered a full range here, so you’re covered whether you’re a veteran Twitch user or a newcomer looking to break into game video.

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There are three things to bear in mind when searching for the best capture card on PC: framerate, resolution, and ease of use. The former will largely depend on your budget, but don’t fret too much about getting the highest possible numbers. While many cards max out at 1080p with 60 frames per second, that’s fine for most modern games anyway. They’re a sensible choice if you’ve got an older rig as well. Although all capture devices reduce strain on your CPU via on-board processing, expensive ones will be too much for some GPUs to handle. That said, it is worth splashing out on a 4K monster if your system is able to manage it. Despite being more expensive, these cards are an excellent way to future-proof yourself. Also, your stream or recorded footage will look dope.

This is the perfect card for anyone wanting to get their gameplay online with as little hassle as possible. Elgato are experts in their field, and the HD60 S proves it; reasonably priced and simple to use, it’s probably the best place to start if you’re new to streaming. Crisp 1080p recordings at 60fps are a feather in its cap, while USB 3.0 connectivity is a happy bonus. Built-in software to get you up and running seal the deal. In fact, the only downside would be the card’s fairly limited editing suite—it’s not much good for anything beyond trimming video. However, it does have ‘Flashback Recording’ to help you retroactively capture even if you forgot to hit ‘record’.

Straightforward and reassuringly unsubtle, the Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus packs smooth 60fps and 1080p recording, 4K pass-through so you can still play in ultra HD (even if it’s not captured in 4K), USB 3.0, Mac compatibility, and dirty great flashing lights to tell you if you’re capturing or have left HDCP on. Besides an attractive form-factor with black casing, red trim, and neon-blue strip lighting, it packs intuitive software for live editing and the ability to record straight onto a Micro SD card if you’d prefer to keep your HDD clear of space-absorbing video. This is a capture card with flexibility, particularly if you record on the go. It works straight out of the box too—always a plus.

AverMedia’s Gamer Extreme card is one of the best streaming-focused solutions on our list; it gives the competition a run for its money thanks to zero latency, no lag, super-fast USB 3.0, uncompressed 1080p HD footage, and 60fps for both streaming and recording. This is what you want if you’re aiming to the storm the treacherous beaches of Twitch. While some features are more useful for console gamers than those using PC, it still allows you to focus on the whatever you’re capturing instead of needing a dual-screen setup. Two audio inputs for adding voiceover or music is equally welcome, and (as with many of the cards above) live editing software helps.

If you want to take your recordings to the next level, Elgato’s internal HD60 Pro card is a good shout. Indeed, their website claims that this card features “an advanced, onboard H.264 encoder that enables you to record unlimited footage in superb 1080p [60fps] quality, at a bitrate up to 60Mbps.” Not too shabby. Although it only streams in 720p, it still manages a solid 60fps. Petite, classy form-factor are in the HD60 Pro’s favor as well. At around $150/£150, it’s a sound option that gives great results for less.

For pro-users who will settle at nothing but the best, Elgato’s 4K60 Pro is your jam. It builds on the HD60 Pro’s ultra-low latency with 4K 60fps capture, 1080p 60fps streaming, and all the benefits of Elgato software. Even though it needs a high-end PC to get off the ground, this is an excellent piece of kit for those who are set on capturing gameplay at the highest resolution and frame rate possible. We’d recommend an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20-series and at least an 8th gen Intel Core i7 CPU (or better) to avoid any latency. Although it’s wise to make sure you’ve got enough space on your HDD for all those videos as well, the 4K60 Pro has an encoder to reduce file size and save you much-needed memory real-estate. Oh, and one more thing: the best way to play while using this card is with a lag-free HDMI passthrough that shoots the feed to a 4K screen or second monitor.

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